Effect of Replacing Coke with Biomass Fuel on Sinter Properties and Pollutant Emissions

Abstract

In the iron-ore-sintering process, the use of biomass charcoal instead of coke breeze can reduce the emission of flue gas pollutants and alleviate the energy crisis of fossil fuels. However, the direct application of biomass charcoal to iron ore sintering is bound to affect the sinter properties. The effects of biomass charcoal addition on the sintering ore properties and flue gas pollutants emission were studied through sintering cup and related performance test experiments. Meanwhile, the influence mechanism of biomass charcoal instead of coke breeze on iron ore sintering was expounded. The experimental results show that with an increase in biomass charcoal, the vertical sintering rate increased, the internal pore structure developed rapidly, and the pollutant emission decreased gradually. When the biomass charcoal content was less than 40%, the sinter strength and yield were stable and slightly improved with the increase in biomass charcoal. When the biomass charcoal content was higher than 40%, the metallurgical properties of sinter degraded sharply, making it difficult to meet the production requirements. The comprehensive effect of biomass charcoal on the sinter suggests that the suitable biomass charcoal addition was 40%; under this condition, the reduction in SO2 and NOx was 28.2% and 25.7%, respectively.